Jays promote Vlad to Triple A

TORONTO — Vladimir Guerrero is going to Las Vegas, moving him one step closer to a return to the majors with the Blue Jays.

Toronto assigned the 37-year-old to their Triple-A affiliate Friday. Guerrero, who signed a minor-league deal with Toronto May 10, is scheduled to play today against host Reno.

A 16-year veteran, Guerrero reported to extended spring training in Dunedin after signing with the Jays. He appeared in four games at Class A, batting .450 (9-for-20) with a double, four homers and eight RBIs. Jays manager John Farrell said Guerrero will be a DH and play the outfield in Las Vegas.

It's the first trip to Triple A for the nine-time All-Star and 2004 AL MVP. He jumped from Double A to the majors with Montreal in 1996.

RBI drought ends: Brewers OF Nyjer Morgan hit a solo homer in the first off the Pirates' Kevin Correia, ending his MLB-record run of 138 straight plate appearances without an RBI to start the season. The old mark was 125, by White Sox OF Herb Adams in 1950.

Nats-Mets Postponed: Rain in Washington kept the Nationals and Braves from playing Friday. No makeup date was announced. The Nationals had activated OF Michael Morse (strained back muscle) from the DL. He had been set to make his season debut.

Braun still bothered: Brewers OF Ryan Braun returned to the lineup, but lingering tightness in his right Achilles tendon remains an issue. Manager Ron Roenicke said Braun's status changes daily, "so it's hard knowing where we are with it." Roenicke said the problem won't keep Braun out of the lineup for an extended period of time.

Cardinals: 2B/OF Skip Schumaker (strained right hamstring) went on the 15-day DL and is expected to miss four weeks. 1B/OF Allen Craig (hamstring) was activated.

Indians: Manager Manny Acta says C Carlos Santana has made progress from his concussion and should be in the lineup next week.

Mariners: RHP Stephen Pryor was called up from Triple-A Tacoma, giving the reliever a chance at the majors after two dominating stops in the minors this season. In 28 innings for Double-A Jackson and Tacoma, Pryor allowed two earned runs and struck out 39. He has not allowed an earned run in his last 27 innings in the minors.

Padres: RHP Jeff Suppan, the 37-year-old who was out of the majors last season, was designated for assignment after six starts this year with a 2-3 record and 5.28 ERA.

Red Sox: Six years after he last pitched in the majors, RHP Mark Prior has been promoted to Triple A. The oft-injured Prior had been at extended spring training in Florida.

Yankees: C Russell Martin said he has spoken with MLB executive VP Joe Torre about his incident with umpire Laz Diaz, who would not allow the catcher to throw new balls back to his pitchers after fouls Wednesday. Martin said the plate ump was punishing him for arguing balls and strikes.

Trainer arrest:Edgar Mercedes, a trainer who helped represent Yoenis Cespedes, was arrested in the Dominican Republic on human smuggling charges for allegedly helping Cuban players illegally enter the country. A police statement says the three Dominicans and three Cubans transported potential players from Cuba in hopes of gaining major-league contracts. Mercedes, who is not a registered baseball agent, worked with Cespedes after he defected and later signed a $36 million, four-year contract with Oakland.

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